Why I love the Little Einsteins (plus a book review)!

Once you become a parent you get to endure a fair share of mindless kids television. For preschoolers, there is a decent selection of quality cartoons for the little ones. Once they get a bit older, the educational element tends to wear off and you are left with a lot of crude humor. Even though Leah is starting to head out of that preschooler age, she still likes to sit through a Blue’s Clues episode once in a while.

One of the newer shows on for kids produced by Disney, called Little Einsteins, is unique. Aimed mostly at preschoolers, Little Einsteins follows four animated characters as they complete a mission. What makes this show a cut above the rest is how they introduce young children to classical music and pieces of art. Each episode highlights one composer and a few pieces of art. The music is heard throughout the episode and the characters either interact with the objects or walk through the artwork. It is all done in a very interesting and visually pleasing way.

So I ask you, do you know anything about the below drawing?

As written at this site, Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) was the first self-conscious artistic genius in Northern Europe art: a painter, draughtsman, printmaker, and theoretician and would-be reformer of the arts. Dürer exploited the new printing technology to disseminate cheap, mass produced prints throughout Europe. In so doing, Dürer combined self promotion and spiritual values, making him the first international superstar.

I did not know anything at all about Albrecht Dürer until a few weeks ago. Not only was his drawing of the rhinoceros animated during one of the Little Einstein episodes, but it was featured in my graphic design textbook, The History of Graphic Design, in which I am currently studying. Leah was so excited that she was able to recognize something from my textbook.

The Little Einsteins were able to open not only my daughter’s eyes to interesting pieces of are, but also taught me something that coincidentally I needed to learn. Now that’s a cool kids show.

If you have a chance, stop by Rice Daddies to read a book review I wrote for them (they are having a contest) about my all time favorite children’s book!

9 Responses to “Why I love the Little Einsteins (plus a book review)!”

Thank you for informing me about yet another kids TV show that I should be paying attention to…one that looks extrememly cool, to me!! The former was the BAckyardigans – one that I intend to avoid like the plague. Honestly, those guys freak me out.

“We’re going on a trip in our little rocket ship…” Yep, I watch the show quite often with my 2 1/2 year old niece. That and Charlie & Lola, The Backyardigans and Little Miss Spider. Not all in one day, mind you. Well, maybe once in a while! 😉